Grove

Traffic & Transit

Drivers can expect road closures and delays as crews work on roads in the Northampton, Levittown, Yardley, Bensalem, and Warminster areas.

John Fey , Patch Staff

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — PennDOT has announced upcoming pothole repairs on several Bucks County roads, including some in the Northampton, Levittown, Yardley, Bensalem, and Warminster areas.

PennDOT crews planning on working across the Philadelphia region to repair deteriorated pavement on more than 55 state highways.

Some of the nearby roads to be repaired include:

• Holland Road, Northampton Township
• Pine Grove Road, Lower Makefield Township
• Bath Road, Bristol Township
• Newportville Road, Bristol Township and Hulmeville Borough
• Oxford Valley Road, Middletown Township
• Mechanicsville Road, Bensalem Township
• Jacksonville Road, Ivyland Borough and Warminster Township

PennDOT will also be conducting repairs on several other Bucks County roads, including:

• U.S. 202, Doylestown Township and Doylestown Borough
• Route 611 and ramps in Doylestown Borough and Plumstead, Tinicum, Nockamixon, and Bedminster townships
• Route 309, Hilltown, Milford, West Rockhill, Richland, and Springfield townships
• Route 152, Perkasie Borough and Hilltown Township
• Cathill Road, Perkasie Borough and West Rockhill Township

Road closures and delays are to be expected as a result of the repairs. Drivers are advised to find alternative routes as their nearby roads are worked on. All repair activity is weather-dependent.

Potholes and other roadway concerns on state roads can be reported by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or visiting the PennDOT website and clicking on “Submit A Roadway Concern.”

For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin .

Real Estate

Curious about what’s on the market? Here is what the newest houses in and near West Chester have to offer.

Real Estate News , Patch Staff

WEST CHESTER, PA — Whether you’re actively researching for a new home or just curious about other properties nearby, you can start your search with five of the newest listings in and around West Chester featured below. Follow the address links below to see more photos of homes that spark your interest.

Here are the five most recent houses to go up for sale in and around the West Chester area — including a home with 3 beds and 3 baths for $658,640, and another with 4 beds and 4 baths for $960,000.

Click on any address for additional photos and details. Enjoy!

Editor’s note: This list was automatically generated.

Related: Visit The Patch Mortgage Center To Lock In Today’s Best Rates

1. 312 Star Tavern Lane, West Chester, PA 19382

Price: $691,918 Size: 2,500 sq. ft., 4 beds, and 4 baths Listed by: Tiffany Weber, Monument Sotheby’s International Realty

2. 314 Star Tavern, West Chester, PA 19382

Price: $660,090 Size: 1,989 sq. ft, 3 beds, and 3 baths Listed by: Tiffany Weber, Monument Sotheby’s International Realty

3. 1166 Arrowhead Dr, West Chester, PA 19382

Price: $960,000 Size: 4 beds, and 4 baths Listed by: Ramonita Hernandez Mohr, Art Herling Team Blue Bell

4. 310 Star Tavern Lane, West Chester, PA 19382

Price: $658,640 Size: 2,400 sq. ft., 3 beds, and 3 baths Listed by: Tiffany Weber, Monument Sotheby’s International Realty

5. 308 Star Tavern Lane, West Chester, PA 19382

Price: $699,995 Size: 2,500 sq. ft., 4 beds, and 4 baths Listed by: Tiffany Weber, Monument Sotheby’s International Realty

That’s not all! There are even more homes for you to check out in the real-estate section for the West Chester area.

Photos courtesy of ListHub.com

Restaurants & Bars

TAPS is a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Holly Herman , Patch Staff

WEST CHESTER- After a hard day at work, the best way to unwind and relax is to go to a fun-filled happy hour.

Every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, West Chester restaurants and breweries are hosting a happy hour called TAPS.

Participating locations will have a select list of $4 beers, $5 wines, $6 cocktails, and appetizer specials.

Participating locations:

• Artillery Brewing Company,
• Bar Avalon, Barnaby’s,
• Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant,
• Jitters,
• Kildare’s Irish Pub,
• Marquee Bar and Lounge.
• Más Mexicali Cantina,
• Pietro’s Prime,
• Ryan’s Pub,
• Saloon 151,
• Santino’s Tap & Table,
• Side Bar & Restaurant,
• Slow Hand,
• Split Rail Tavern,
• Sterling Pig Public House,
• Stove & Tap, The Social Lounge.

Information on restaurants is available here.

Politics & Government

Westtown Township voters approved a tax hike to save Crebilly Farm from development. The farm dates back to the Revolutionary War.

Holly Herman , Patch Staff

CHESTER COUNTY, PA – Westtown Township reidents voted in favor of a referendum for the township to purchase the 208 acres of the Crebilly Farm for $20.8 million, resulting in tax increases.

A total of 67.5 percent, or 4,001 residents voted in favor of the referendum, and a total of 32.5 percent, or 1,926 residents voted against the referendum, according to the Chester County election results available Thursday.

The referendum asked if voters would support tax increases of .08 percent in earned income taxes and real estate taxes at a rate not to exceed .42 per $1,000 of assessed property to acquire the property for open space.

In April, the township voted to purchase the farm for a park , preventing the land from being sold to a developer.

Land owners, the Robinson family, co-founders of Acme Markets, signed an agreement to sell the land to the township.

A second agreement for Natural Lands, a non profit conservation organization, to purchase easements for 102 acres is pending.

The funds generated from the increase will secure bonds to pay for the acquisition and maintenance of Crebilly Farm, one of the largest remaining unprotected properties in the township and county.

“To say we are thrilled is something of an understatement,” Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands, a nonprofit trust, said in a prepared statement.

“For years, grassroots groups have been vocal about the importance of preserving this beautiful and ecologically important property. With Tuesday’s vote, the residents of Westtown—on both sides of the political aisle—have made their voices heard with a resounding “yes” for conservation.”

Natural Lands has submitted grant requests for approximately $16,000,000—about 75 percent of the cost of the acquisition.

Jack Stefferud, senior director of land protection for Natural Lands, said the project if the referendum was not approved the project would have failed, and Crebilly Farm likely would have been sold to developers.

History

Crebilly Farm, located off Routes 202 and 926, has a history dating back to the American Revolution.

On Sept. 11, 1777, the largest battle of the American Revolution occurred on the site, according to an historical account provided by the Westtown Township Historical Commission.

American General Adam Stephen spotted Hessian troops marching across the farm from his lookout atop Sandy Hollow, where the main battle would take place.

Stephen dispatched a party of soldiers to the farm to frustrate the Hessians’ advance towards the American position.

At this site, the Continental Army learned courage to stand up to the best British Troops.

Schools

The budget calls for no tax increase for Chester County residents and a $5 tax increase for Delaware County residents.

Holly Herman , Patch Staff

WEST CHESTER, PA – The West Chester Area school board Wednesday night adopted a $302.2 million school budget for the 2023-24 school year, amounting to a $5.3 million, or 1.8 percent, increase over this year’s spending plan.

The 2023-24 budget has no tax increase for Chester County property owners and a .1 percent increase for Delaware County property owners, which amounts to $5 for the average property owner.

The district has 11,972 students. The district has 16 schools, including three high schools, three middle schools, and 10 elementary schools.

The differences in county average assessments account for formula differences resulting in the differing tax rates.

The property tax millage rate for West Chester remains one of the lowest in Chester County.

The average assessed home value in Chester County is now $189,850, which is approximately one-half of the home’s market value. The district is comprised of the West Chester borough and the surrounding townships of East Goshen, West Goshen, East Bradford, West Whiteland, Westtown, and Thornbury in Chester County.

The average assessed home value in the Delaware County portion of the district is $502,336, which represents 100 percent of the market value. Delaware County section is Thornbury Township.

The district used savings from the 2022-23 operations to help offset the need for millage increases for the 2023-24 budget. The millage rate is 22.43 in Chester County and 9.94 in Delaware County.

The district’s undesignated fund balance is approximately $19.7 million.

The largest component of the budget is the salaries and benefits for the district’s 1,549 employees, which rose $6.9 million, a 4.7 percent increase.

The 2023-24 budget includes the addition of $1.9 million in staffing costs in the following areas:

Pupil Services

• 3 special education teachers
• 12 behavior specialists for our intensive autistic and emotional support K-12 classrooms
• 3 behavior specialists
• 1 school nurse
• 1 psychologist
• 3 intervention specialists at the middle school level

• 1 community engagement specialist

Secondary Education

• 3 instructional coaches
• 3 athletic trainers

Other:

• 1 custodian
• 2 technology specialist
• 1 human resources specialist

• 1 electrician

The increases in staffing costs are partially offset by reductions in services that were previously outsourced as contracted services.

“The 2023-24 budget reflects a strong commitment to providing enhanced resources and experiences for all of our students as they strive to achieve their personal best,” said Dr. Kalia Reynolds substitute superintendent.

Other increases include more than $1.5 million directly related to the following state and federal mandates:

• $850,000 million increase in state-mandated pension expenses, a 2.1 percent increase over the current year’s budget.
• $700,000 in transportation expenses, a 4.1 percent increase over the current year.

“Each year, we are tasked with balancing the best interests of all stakeholders while creating engaging and effective learning environments,” said Sue Tiernan, school board president. “I am grateful for the collaborative process that this board and district administration have developed to ensure that responsibility is clearly understood and the strategic goals of the district are achieved.”

Gary Bevilacqua, director of the board’s finance committee, said the school board encourages the community to explore the budget documents, attend committee presentations, and ask questions at our monthly property and finance committee meetings.